2020 end-of-year rugby union internationals explained
The 2020 end of year rugby union tests, also referred to as the 2020 Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, were a number of rugby union test matches contested during the months of October, November and December 2020, primarily involving countries from the Northern Hemisphere hosting those from the Southern Hemisphere. Also involved in matches were those from second-tier teams. These international games counted towards World Rugby's ranking system, with a team typically playing from two to four matches during this period.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing a delay or cancellation of many nations' scheduled matches, a different format was developed for this year. The Autumn Nations Cup, an eight-team tournament involving England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, replaced the cancelled matches.[1] Also as a result of the pandemic, this year's fixtures incorporated postponed matches from the 2020 Six Nations Championship and 2020 Rugby Europe Championship, the 2020 South American Rugby Championship and all matches from the 2020 Tri Nations Series.
Fixtures
Bledisloe Cup – Part 1
Notes:
Bledisloe Cup – Part 2
Notes:- Alex Hodgman and Peter Umaga-Jensen (both New Zealand) made their international debuts.
- Rieko Ioane was originally named on the bench but ruled out on match day and was replaced by Peter Umaga-Jensen.
- Due to travel restrictions, the opening two matches of the Bledisloe Cup were officiated by non-neutral referees with the support of the respective unions and their coaches.[2]
23–25 October
Notes:
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Notes:- This was the 100th meeting between the two nations.
- France recorded back-to-back victories over Wales for the first time since 2011.
- Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) equalled New Zealand's Richie McCaw's record for the most capped rugby player (148; 139 for Wales, 9 for the British and Irish Lions).
- Sam Parry and Louis Rees-Zammit (both Wales) made their international debuts.
30 October – 1 November
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Notes:
6–7 November
Notes:- José Irileguy, Mateo Perillo and Ignacio Rodríguez (all Uruguay) and Daniel Barranco and Leandro Wozniak (both Spain) made their international debut.
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20–21 November
Notes:- Valentin Ambrósio and Hugo Mendes (both Portugal) and Adrio de Melo Guilherme Dias, Lucas Spago and Rafael Teixeira (all Brazil) made their international debuts.
5 December
Cancelled fixtures
| Cancelled fixtures |
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The below fixtures were cancelled during the new extended November International window
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The below games were the originally scheduled games as per the World Rugby calendar pre-COVID 19 outbreak, and cancelled due to various global restrictions
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See also
Notes and References
- News: 2 July 2020. Autumn Tests to be replaced by eight-team tournament. en-gb. BBC Sport. 27 July 2020.
- Web site: Owens and Neville to make officiating history. 24 September 2019.
